Nassau Standard

Assemblyman Ari Brown joined Assemblyman Ed Ra and other Minority colleagues at the State Capitol to support bill A06088, which calls for an independent audit of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The bill aims to hold the MTA accountable by requiring a comprehensive forensic audit conducted by a certified independent public accounting firm. This examination seeks to identify inefficiencies, redundancies, and governance issues within the agency.

Assemblyman Brown emphasized the need for transparency in MTA operations due to repeated fare hikes and service cutbacks. "Every year, the MTA continues to lose money, and yet we see massive fare hikes and service cuts that negatively impact hard-working New Yorkers," he stated. "This bill is an essential step in bringing accountability to an agency that has consistently failed the people of New York."

The MTA has faced criticism for mismanagement and budget issues. Experts point out that annual losses and inefficient operations contribute to discussions on congestion pricing—a measure Assemblyman Brown argues could be avoided with better management. He added, "Instead of continuing to raise fares and impose congestion pricing, which hits everyday New Yorkers the hardest, we need to address the root of the problem: mismanagement at the MTA."

A pressing issue addressed by A06088 is uncollected revenue from individuals who evade tolls or fares. The bill calls for improved oversight in revenue collection practices.

Brown commended Assemblyman Ra's leadership on this matter: "I applaud Assemblyman Ra for bringing this bill to the forefront and for his ongoing efforts to tackle this problem head-on." He clarified that A06088 targets accountability at higher levels rather than criticizing MTA workers: "Let’s be clear: this is about accountability at the top."

The bill has garnered significant support, with Assemblyman Brown committed to working towards its passage in the upcoming legislative session.